“Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions within the Catholic Church.”

As the new year got underway, Pope Francis released a video to accompany his prayer intention for the month of January 2024, during which Christians celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, on 18-25 January.

In the video, the Pope urged Christians to unite our prayers to his “for the gift of diversity in the Church,” since diversity is an opportunity to “rejoice”.

He noted that diversity and unity were already present in the early Christian communities, adding that the tension brought about by diversity “had to be resolved on a higher level.”

Gift of God for the Church

However, said the Pope, diversity in the Church includes our brothers and sisters of different Christian confessions.

“To move forward on the journey of faith, we also need ecumenical dialogue with our brothers and sisters of other confessions and Christian communities,” he said. “This is not something confusing or disturbing, but is a gift God gives to the Christian community so it might grow as one body, the Body of Christ.”

Pope Francis offered the example of the diversity of rites within the Eastern Churches that are in communion with Rome.

“They have their own traditions, their own characteristic liturgical rites, yet they maintain the unity of the faith,” he said. “They strengthen it, not divide it.”

United by the Holy Spirit

In conclusion, the Holy Father recalled that all Christian unity comes to us as a gift of the Holy Spirit.

“If we are guided by the Holy Spirit, abundance, variety, and diversity never cause conflict,” he said. “The Holy Spirit reminds us first and foremost that we are children loved by God – everyone equal in God’s love, and everyone different.”

“Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions within the Catholic Church.”

Cross as symbol of Christian unity in diversity

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which produces each month’s The Pope Video, released a press statement to accompany the Holy Father’s intention.

It noted that the Cross represents the common thread of this month’s video, describing it as a symbol of unity and diversity.

“It is much more than an object of devotion,” read the communique. “In short, it is the mystery of love under which all Christians stand, regardless of their confession, tradition, and rite.